ISLAMABAD — Pakistani officials struck a deal late Thursday, Jan. 17, with a fiery Muslim cleric to end four days of anti-government protests by thousands of his supporters that largely paralyzed the capital and put intense pressure on the government.

The demonstration came at a time when the government is facing challenges on several fronts, including from the country’s top court. The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the prime minister earlier in the week in connection with a corruption case, but the government’s anti-corruption chief refused to act Thursday, citing a lack of evidence.

Tahir-ul-Qadri, the 61-year-old cleric who led the protests in Islamabad, galvanized many Pakistanis with his message alleging that the nation’s politicians are corrupt thieves who care more about lining their pockets than dealing with the country’s pressing problems.

The government agreed to dissolve the National Assembly before its term ends on March 16, leaving time to make sure politicians are eligible to stand for elections under the constitution, according to a copy of the agreement. The government also agreed that the caretaker administration, which normally precedes elections, would be chosen in consultation with Qadri’s party, but there was no mention of a role for the military or the judiciary as the cleric demanded.

Russian reassures adoption couples

MOSCOW — Russia’s ombudsman for children’s rights sought on Thursday to reassure American would-be adoptive parents that they will be allowed to take their children back to the United States.

A Russian law banning adoptions by U.S. citizens was rushed through parliament in December, and sped to President Vladimir Putin’s desk in less than 10 days in retaliation for a U.S. law calling for sanctions on Russians identified as human-rights violators.

All such adoptions must be approved by a Russian court, and U.S. families hoping to adopt 52 children had won such rulings before the ban went into effect.

Children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said Thursday that Russia would honor the court decisions but did not elaborate on the timeline or say what the families should do now.

Guinea worm edges close to eradication

ATLANTA — Guinea worm disease cases were cut to fewer than 600 in 2012, marking significant progress in eradicating the parasitic infection, former President Jimmy Carter said Thursday.

The effort to eradicate the disease, which is spread by drinking contaminated water, has been a major focus of the former president and the Atlanta-based Carter Center. Carter said that when the organization began to work on the eradication effort in 1986, there were 3.5 million Guinea worm cases in 21 countries.

In 2012, there were 542 cases reported in four countries, a decline from 1,058 cases the year before, the center said Thursday during Carter’s first social media news conference. Ghana was taken off the list of countries with the disease in 2012 after reporting no cases. The only other human disease to be eradicated is smallpox.

Amtrak has partner for high-speed rail

WASHINGTON — The two biggest players in the nation’s pursuit of high-speed rail said Thursday they’ll work together to search for trains that will operate at up to 220 miles per hour along both coasts of the United States.

Officials with Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority said they envision that the two systems will purchase about 60 trains over the next decade. The first order could take place next year.

The aim is for manufacturers to design trains that will work for both systems. In the process, their combined buying power should generate better pricing from manufacturers.

U.N. sorry for Serb nationalist song

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations apologized Thursday for the ovation given to a militant Serb nationalist song performed at a concert honoring Serbia’s presidency of the U.N. General Assembly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman said.

Martin Nesirky said the U.N. chief “obviously was not aware what the song was about or the use that has been made of it in the past.”

“March to the Drina” was originally written as a nationalist hymn after World War I, about a battle on the Drina River that now separates Serbia and Bosnia. It features lyrics such as “The battle was fought, near cold water, blood was flowing, blood was streaming by the Drina … for freedom!”

It became a favorite of fascists and Serb nationalists, and was banned by Yugoslavia’s Communist government after World War II. It was reportedly sung in the 1990s during Serb attacks on Bosnian towns along the Drina River separating the newly separated countries.

Yoko, son voice fracking opposition

MONTROSE, Pa. — Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and Susan Sarandon spoke out against fracking Thursday during a tour of natural-gas drilling sites in northeastern Pennsylvania, warning about what they view as the danger to air, water and human health.

The celebrities boarded a tour bus in New York City and headed to rural Susquehanna County to see gas wells, compressor stations and other evidence of the Marcellus Shale drilling boom, and to visit with residents who say they have been negatively impacted by drilling.

Tom Shepstone of Energy In Depth, an industry group, trailed the sleek silver Mercedes tour bus and declared the celebrity visit to be a publicity stunt.

Massacre case held up for sanity review

SEATTLE — An Army staff sergeant accused of massacring Afghan civilians must undergo an official sanity review before a mental health defense can be presented, the military judge overseeing the case said Thursday.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales deferred entering a plea Thursday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to 16 counts of premeditated murder and other charges related to a nighttime attack on two villages last March. The Army is seeking the death penalty.

But the judge, Col. Jeffery Nance, took up arguments over whether Bales can present a mental health defense or testimony from mental health experts, given that he has not yet participated in a “sanity board” review.

The judge ordered that to take place, but made no decisions about the conditions for the review or what information from it would be turned over to prosecutors — something prosecutors and defense attorneys have been arguing about.

First lady unveils her new hairstyle

WASHINGTON — There’s something a little different these days about Michelle Obama: bangs in her hair.

The first lady’s office posted a picture of her new do on her new Twitter feed Thursday. It shows her meeting at the White House with one of eight citizens named co-chairs of President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Michelle Obama’s next public appearances will come Saturday, when she helps kick off several days of inaugural festivities.

Thursday turned out to be a busy day for the first lady. Along with the new Twitter presence at @FLOTUS, she celebrated her 49th birthday.

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